Struggling to pick an ELdO!

Like a few BNers who have gone before me, I recently acquired the Etat Libre d'Orange discovery set - a pack of 25 samples from their range plus a voucher for a half price bottle of my favourite.

After much sniffing I think I've finally narrowed it down to a 'top three' but each have pros and cons:

1) Out in front is Jasmine et Cigarette. A wonderful fragrance but I'm concerned it might be a touch feminine for me. It is also the least long lasting and projecting of the three.

2) Tom of Finland. Another fine fragrance although this one is slightly more expensive; I already own a number of leather-based frags and I'm concerned that it's a bit of a crowd pleaser and not a true representation of the rebellious spirit of the house (this may well be the only ELdO I ever own).

3) Antiheros. All lavender all the way through. I really enjoy this but I do find it a bit one dimensional and fleeting on my skin.

Re: Struggling to pick an ELdO!

All excellent, I own several. In your list of 3, either ToF or Jasmine et cigarette. But you didn't seem too enthusiastic to get another leather, so if you do not own a floral already, I'd go for Jasmine et cigarette. I don't see any problem with men wearing florals. In this case, moreover, it's quite dry, strong with cigarette, and thus quite masculine. On me, it lasts well, but of course, leathers are on a different planet in terms of longevity.

ToF is a wonderful suede, very versatile, and there's certainly space for it even if you own other leathers. But if you go for leather, then you should seriously consider Rien, perhaps my favorite in the line. It is a bitter, uncompromising, animalic leather. Extremely strong and tenacious (if you spray, no more than 2), and certainly much more less versatile than ToF. But very distinctive.

Re: Struggling to pick an ELdO!

Barry - you're right, if I'm honest, part of me wants to own one just for the sake of it. That said, of the three (maybe four) I named, I'd certainly be happy wearing them too, and most likely would.

J&C is the most distinct from anything else I own or have smelled before and that's a big part of the attraction. Where on earth did you find TOF for £16 though!? I need to spend some time there, wherever it was!

Thanks for the input so far, folks - is the general consensus that J&C is easily wearable by both sexes?

Re: Struggling to pick an ELdO!

I own full bottles of both Tom Of Finland and Antiheros and a nice decant of Jasmine Et Cigarette but if I had to choose one to buy it would definitely be ToF. I don't perceive it as a leather-centered fragrance. To me it's more of a lemony-saffrony combo with leathery facets and a massive woody-powdery base.

Re: Struggling to pick an ELdO!

I'd say don't get any of them right now. If you're not thrilled with any of them, why bother?

Revisit them over time and see how your preferences may change. But at the moment, save your money for something you love.

I agree with you on principle, however the voucher expires in a couple of weeks and it would be a crying shame to waste it. As it happens, I think I've decided on Jasmine et Cigarette. It's very different from anything else I own and I do find it oddly alluring. I don't own many florals and certainly none as feminine: I'm keen to experiment with challenging traditional gendering in fragrance so it'll enhance my wardrobe in that respect too. Oh and, it's my mum's favourite! Hehe.

Thanks for all the input, folks. Tom of Finland was a very close second and in some respects I find it even more wearable (it's certainly longer lasting) than JeC but, for me, it's just not distinctive or innovative enough to be a good representation of what ELdO are all about.